Drivers are still fined at a rate of one every six minutes in Valley Gardens, three years after they went active.
Tens of thousands of drivers are passing through the short bus lanes called bus gates, despite various efforts by Brighton and Hove City Council to improve signs and awareness.
The restrictions at Marlborough Place, St George’s Place, York Place and St Peter’s Place, Brighton, prevent drivers from driving on the western side of the linear park, leaving the road for buses and the most local traffic.
In the first year, 2021, a driver was fined every two minutes, based on daytime activity, which dropped to every three minutes in 2022.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service found 41,707 drivers went through the bus gates in 2023.
A separate FOI on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website, confirmed 28,414 fines were issued in 2023, generating £861,819.
This is a dramatic fall in the number of fines issued in previous years.
In 2022 the council issued 98,106 fines generating £2,930,484 with the same number generated in 2021.
York Place is still the hot spot with a high of 3,613 drivers passing through the bus gate by Trafalgar Street in October, and 3,534 in July.
Since the bus gates were introduced at the start of 2021, York Place has seen 119,354 drivers penalised and 8,063 successfully appeal their fines.
In 2022, extra road markings and signs were introduced near the bus lanes in addition to those already in place that met Department of Transport requirements.
Conservative group leader councillor Alistair McNair said it should not be “routine” for residents and visitors to face fines when they drive into central Brighton.
Councillor McNair said: “While one driver caught every six minutes may be an improvement on one in every two minutes in 2021 it only appears so because of the horrendous frequency of drivers being caught previously.
“This is like a student achieving an F- who now gets an F+.
“One driver every six minutes is still wholly unacceptable and that after three years proves that something is wrong with the signage and that there is no willingness to improve it as the driver acts as a useful cash cow.”
Councillor Trevor Muten, chair of the council’s Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “Our aim is to keep traffic moving and limit congestion. We understand this can lead to fines being issued that drivers may not agree with.
“The bus gates with signage were put in place to help improve traffic flow, safety and bus services. We believe that drivers are well informed about the bus gate and can take steps to avoid being fined.
“The signage for these gates is compliant with national guidance, with added extra signage to give drivers more advanced warning.
“All appeals to Penalty Charge Notices are reviewed. But it’s important for drivers to be aware of these road regulations and signage to avoid being penalised.
“The reducing number of penalty charges notices means people are following the rules and helping to improve bus journey times.”
One driver every six minutes doesn’t pay attention to the sodding great signs, that’s concerning to read.
A tax on inattentiveness?
People unable to understand or respond to these humongous signs have no business driving a hazardous vehicle on our streets. Seeing as fines have limited impact, penalties should be increased to include a 30 day ban.
You can’t extrapolate that from the data shown, because we don’t know how many of these fines are repeat offenders.
They obviously dont read this newspaper
Nor indeed the many road signs in place.
How else does the council pay for the folly of i360?
Not with fine money, because they aren’t allowed to, Pascal.
St Peter’s Place is literally designed with the sole reason to make money. The way the lights are phased it actually causes the busses to get more delayed than if the 10 metre bus lane wasn’t there at all. Genuinely disgusting.
As for the other bus lanes, zero sympathy they are well enough sign posted and actually make complete sense.
Councillor Trevor Muten, chair of the council’s Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “Our aim is to keep traffic moving and limit congestion.”
If this is the aim then the council is failing on average every 6 minutes as unauthorised vehicles get into the area and cause congestion
The answer to this is simple. Change signs to the standard no entry except ones. These are compliant and used at another bus gate in the city.
The only reason for keeping with odd blue signs, used elsewhere locally to mean other things, is to be a revenue raiser.
Labour, let’s stop spouting the green lines. Look for solutions.
Decriminalised bus lane enforcement vs penalty points.
Hmm, St Peter’s place, I assume you mean the Bus lane turning left or right from the Lewes Road and you do have a valid point with this one.
There is definitely an element of people not knowing their road signs and markings. Great example.of this is Edward Street and people avoiding the bus lane outside it’s hours of operation.
Had a motorcyclist even try to tell me I was wrong. Respectfully pointed out what the times means, then says it should be better signed, to which I respond by stating the six or so large signs at every junction making it extremely clear.
Disgusting profiteering scam against our residents and visitors.
yet so easily avoided (like speeding fines and the no idling penalty or parking fines) by reading the road signs!
I agree with Alistair. It shouldn’t be “routine” for a resident to drive through a bus gate and get fined.
Muten will be rubbing his hands. And there’s more rinsing of residents to come – that’s the advice of the council’s auditors…
Keep traffic moving’ says cllr Muten.
So why is he pushing ahead with VG3, when the Council’s own consultants say removing the roundabout will cause more congestion?
All part of the car hating Transport department ‘s plan to screw the motorist.
Don’t like it ? Contact Mark Prior/Transport Head BHCC
we are normal pensioners. we got done my wife didn’t notice the sign on the road. had to pay for a ticket. Just visiting our grandkids. it’s signed just to make money. for the council. it’s a disgrace. we don’t go that way anymore
We got fined here a few years back. The signage was not clear at all, especially on a dark, wet evening. Having lived in Brighton for 10 years (though moved away 20 years ago), you tend to just follow the routes you know, unless you see clear signs telling you you can’t.
The signage is not clear and is deliberately unclear. What in god’s name is a Bus Gate. When did this term of no entry enter the driver’s vocabulary. I got caught here, looking at one sign that clearly stated “local traffic” I then see for the first time the sign “Bus Gate”. I have to make an instant decision, What is a gate? Something to stop an action or passage. Bus Gate = Stop Bus. Combined with the ‘local traffic’ sign I proceeded as I was only going to my shop which was very local.
I am not stupid and I used common sense as I’ve ever heard the term Bus Gate before. The council are very well aware of this as this has been pointed out to them many times before. The council are definitely using this area as a cash cow. If they do not wish cars to drive in this area, they should use the same terminology as they use elsewhere in Brighton which is Buses and Taxis only. They use the government’s guidelines, which are only guidelines in a deliberate way to confuse and fine motorists. Admittedly, if you get caught twice driving on this road then you are stupid. First time offenders should not be fined. I don’t understand why the council are constantly finding ways to destroy Brighton and Hove.
Leef
Seriously?
Signage is quite clear, if you don’t understand it that’s your problem. Several road signs tell you Buses, Taxi’s and cycles and ‘local access’. As you proceed you will encounter more signs dictating Buses, Taxi’s and cycles ONLY with the legend OTHER TRAFFIC to turn left or right with a clear compulsory arrow in a blue background.
Clear as a bell.
Bus Gates are springing up all over the place, while gate may be misleading, the word bus certainly isn’t and should give a clue, other signage should indicate what other vehicles may proceed into the bus gate, usually only a short distance where further signs show where you need to go.
The problem, they can’t make the area dedicated to Buses and Taxi’s only, due to other vehicles needing access to other roads and businesses etc, therefore Bus Gate.
People need to be more observant as the signs are there and are clear enough for the majority of drivers.
If only cyclists would take note of the ‘no cycling’ signs…and red lights. But they, of course, have carte blanche to do what they like with impunity.
Too many cycling eco-zealot woketards in the Transport Dept!
Oh dear Helen. Perhaps I did not make myself clear. This happened to me just after the lanes had just been changed. I have been driving in Brighton since the 1970s and have seen many changes. In early 2020 I was trapped in another country due to the covid pandemic for 6 months. Upon my return to England I needed to drive to my shop, my local business, within the local area. I proceeded down North Road as I had always done, for nearly 50 years, to be met by a sign that said turn left for local traffic. Guess what, I’m local traffic. This was the route I had always taken, although It was obvious at that point that the road directions and layout had been changed. At the St Peters Church area the sign also said local traffic and bus gate. Yes, I know what a bus is. I’ve seen many of them. I also know what a gate is… At this point the road is now a single lane, I cannot just stop and take note of what is going on, I have to proceed. The road signage WAS misleading. By pure definition, I was misled. It is the R-souls in the world like you that say, I saw it so everybody else should see. Incidentally the signage has now been changed.
You are probably one of those people that drive everywhere even if you could walk or take a bus down the many new bus lanes, and do not give a hoot about the climate, pollution or people’s health. I doubt whether you are a Brightonian, and if you are not, keep your comments to yourself. My points about the council earning money from these ridiculous “government guideline schemes” against the local residents were meant as statements. They were not open to debate
by idiots like you.
As it happens, I cycle through Brighton wherever possible, rain wind or snow, as I do care. I only drive when necessary to carry items to and from my shop.
If so many people are still being caught by these bus gates, it is quite clear that the system does not work and the signage should be changed. If the signage was clearer, less people would drive down them. That is fact. The system IS designed to take money from the motorist. If I had the incorrect signage on the front of my shop, I would not get any customers. I would realize that there was a problem and change it.
I am appalled at the money that the council wastes, especially on things like badly thought out cycle lanes which I do use.
So stick that in your pipe and smoke it Helen.
You say “The problem, they can’t make the area dedicated to Buses and Taxi’s only, due to other vehicles needing access to other roads and businesses etc, therefore Bus Gate”
If the area is not only dedicated to buses and taxis, how are drivers meant to understand this?
You say “therefore Bus Gate” you’ve tried to make a point by insulting my and other motorists driving and observation skills and then summed it up by contradicting everything you’ve just said.
Are you sure you don’t work for the council ? 🤣
One every six minutes means it’s unclear. I’ve been driving safely in Brighton for over 30 years and I’ve almost been caught out recently. For people visiting Brighton these ‘gates’ come suddenly and unexpectedly.. by design. You read every sign when you’re behind the wheel? That is dangerous. Instead you use common sense, and it’s careful common sense drivers that these gates take advantage of. This is a scam that happens all over the country, look into it yourself.
I completely agree – I got caught last year, and everyone I spoke to about it, when I said I “went through a bus gate” they said “a what??”
A big red sign saying NO CARS ALLOWED or similar would decrease the number of drivers going through the bus gates massively but thar would kill this golden goose.
Leef
Seriously?
Signage is quite clear, if you don’t understand it that’s your problem. Several road signs tell you Buses, Taxi’s and cycles and ‘local access’. As you proceed you will encounter more signs dictating Buses, Taxi’s and cycles ONLY with the legend OTHER TRAFFIC to turn left or right with a clear compulsory arrow in a blue background.
Clear as a bell.
Bus Gates are springing up all over the place, while gate may be misleading, the word bus certainly isn’t and should give a clue, other signage should indicate what other vehicles may proceed into the bus gate, usually only a short distance where further signs show where you need to go.
The problem, they can’t make the area dedicated to Buses and Taxi’s only, due to other vehicles needing access to other roads and businesses etc, therefore Bus Gate.
People need to be more observant as the signs are there and are clear enough for the majority of drivers.
Please read my reply to the other idiot Helen. And get your own pipe ready.
There is absolutely no reason why there are no NO ENTRY signs at the entrance.
They manage to put signage in multiple languages in public buildings yet refuse to address this issue because it is a money earner.
It is self evident that the signage is inadequate and the pretence that thousands of travellers are deliberately flouting the law is insulting. Enough of the council and Green Party trolls.
Hopefully one day this will end up before the courts and the council will have to refund the millions they have already screwed from the unwitting.
I hope they get surcharged too.
I quite agree. There are ⛔ signs throughout the rest of Brighton.
Vince There are some sections that normal traffic need tp access, hence Bus Gate, but I agree there should then be NO ENTRY signs when it applies.
There is a reason Vince. Decriminalised bus lane enforcement vs penalty points is the major one.
Wot about the over head information screen then of when the buses arrive then or are due then we have a 12 in Newhaven yesterday saying if was due and it never trun up and a 12A had a arrived before 12 why I think we should be able to see on on the distance screen are the bus really arrive like on a mobile phone with the gps
Erm…that has nothing to do with this article or the council.
To Conan Fruitarian. You are a pratt if you support the parasite council. It’s a means to get money to fund its mad schemes. Like the aAquarian round about scheme. They probably want to fund another i360 tower !!
I received a fine for going through a bus gate in Brighton, no one I spoke to knew what a bus gate was but they knew what a bus lane is. Therefore, by labelling it a bus gate I believe it is intentionally misleading. Furthermore, there is only one lane and one turn off to the left. The signage is not adequate or appropriate, the sign for the bus gate is only after you have surpassed the turning to the left and when you are actually in the bus gate, there is no signage that it is buses only on the left until after you have passed the bus gate.
I contested the fine as the only turning to the left to prevent me going down the bus gate had a diversion sign in the middle of that road and a road closed sign, preventing me from turning left and directing me down the bus gate this was clearly seen in the Council’s own photograph provided as evidence. Therefore the fine was cancelled but with no apology. Clearly this is a money making scheme as better signage could prevent motorists from going in the bus lane before they get to it and it should be called a bus lane, additionally whoever issues these fines clearly do not look at the evidence before they are issued so I assume they are auto generated by the camera or a computer system.
As someone that does not live or work in Brighton who attended for a network event I will never ever drive or visit Brighton if I can help it ever again. The whole system for driving in and out of Brighton is horrendous and car parking is extortionate £14.50 for a few hours. The car parking at the rail way station is only for short stay.